Internships

Information For:

Donate

Contact Us

Follow Us

Site Search

SEP offers two exciting research programs for high school students - San Francisco Health Investigators for current sophomore and the High School Intern Program for current juniors.

The transformation I underwent was pretty incredible, from learning how to “do” science to learning how to start conversations with people I barely know. For many reasons, I would trade almost all of the experiences I had in school for this one internship. However, my biggest reason was the amount of work I had to do. I feel like I’ve done more work in this internship than I have in all my years of high school. And the feelings of reward that come after were unlike almost any I’ve had before.

– SFUSD student

I feel as if the work I am doing is enlightening. It’s amazing to be a part of the future of imaging technology. I’ve already begun to accomplish quite a bit of work.

- SFUSD student

Our visit to UC Davis impacted me because before I was thinking that I can’t go to college because there were no opportunities for me. But hearing all these students talking about how great opportunities are for all who want to go ahead and don’t give up, my mind changed and now I just want to go to college and do my best.

- SFUSD student

*Our programs are limited to San Francisco public high school sophomores and juniors who are nominated by a science teacher at their schools. We are currently seeking nominations for students for our 2017-2018 programs from San Francisco Unified School District science teachers.

High School Intern Program (for current juniors) – students work closely with a mentor in a lab at one of the UCSF campuses in a paid summer internship immersed in laboratory-based biomedical research.

San Francisco Health Investigators (for current sophomores) – students engage in a public health research project to investigate issues important to the health of their communities and develop targeted messaging campaigns addressing these issues. The project begins in the summer and continues into the following school year.

Both programs offer students opportunities to gain skills and confidence, learn new concepts in science and health, engage with and communicate scientific ideas, be immersed in the authentic world of science, and share their work with a wider audience. They will also receive intensive personal guidance in college readiness and the college application process. This type of program – where students are engaged in authentic scientific research – is extremely valuable, as students work closely with scientist role models, are exposed to the diversity of disciplines and pathways in the sciences, learn new ways of thinking, and begin to envision themselves as scientists. Such programs enrich the STEM field by incorporating students who would not otherwise have this kind of opportunity.